The Faith, Love and Politics of Raising Boys to Men

I love Fall. The smell of crisp, musty leafy air. The crunch and skittering leaf sounds. Blustery wind that sasses. It is the only time of year that I orange is my favoarite color. Otherwise, I abhor it. It is the only time of year a black cat gives me pause.

Walking up the main street of my hometown every day to visit my aunt, my feet kicking through red, orange, and brown leaves that crackled. Robin’s egg blue skies and clouds, so white, so full as though they were heavy with the winter snow to come–the sky seemed like the roof of an old house, too low and me too big, like I could almost touch the ceiling–that’s autumn. Autumn is full of memores that wrap around you like a old, warm quilt made from blue cotton memories.

When autumn comes, I pull out my very favorite autumn children’s book, “When will the Snow Trees Grow?” by Ben Shecter. The little guys and I wrap up in our blankets, snuggle up with some hot chocolate for them and warm apple cider for me. Because the “lemonade isn’t as sweet.” The blankets feel just right. And the wind rustles around the house trying to find a way inside. Shector poignantly shows how tastes and needs evolve with the seasons.

Another favorite book pulled out, for the older, more adventuruous among us is The Oxford English Edition of Classic Ghost Stories. The stories collected in these pages are to horror movies what Belgian truffles are to cheap chocolate. No gimmicks, just stories passed own through folklore, sprung out of supersitition, imagination, and a dark night. It is one of my husband’s favorite books to read, too I heartily enjoy it, but don’t like reading it if he is out of town–BOO!

Of course, since lemonade doesn’t taste as sweet, it’s time to pull out the crock pot and stir up some mulled apple cider, topped with homemade whipped cream and Starbucks Caramel Sauce. My favorite hot chocolate recipe is the way my aunt used to make it when I’d spend the night. Milk warmed with Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa and made just like it says on the back of the box:

DIRECTIONS

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature. Top with real homemade whipping cream.

One of my favorite parts about autumn will be different this year. For years, the boys and the neighborhood kids would stop by in the midst of their afternoon play, no matter how cold the weather. I would pull out my S’More indoor grill. The gaggle would pull up the stools to the counter, and S’More Snacks for everyone-a regular autumn event! The neighborhood kids might be in another state, but the S’More Maker is with me!

The weather is cooling, the trees green, but have a washed out look about them. The sky feels like it is starting to press downward. The quilts feel snugglier. I’m getting thirsty for some yummy cider. The urge to curl up with a book that will make my hair stand on end, no matter how many times I read the stories, beckons, and, for some reason, the color orange is my very favorite color right now, a fiery, pumkiny orange. My scardy cat seems a little braver, her coat a little darker for some reason.